"We can´t believe that we have to go home at this early stage. I hope the team will stay together and attack again in two years. We under-estimated the fact that other teams were out to hunt us after last summer´s bronze medal."

Coach Henrik Dettmann, whose contract expires at the end of October, said: "This is a very disappointing day for all of us. We came here with high expectations - maybe too high."

Dettmann led Germany to a fourth-place finish at Euro 2001 and the bronze medal at the World Championships, but he has been the target of criticism lately and might be out of a job soon.

Nowitzki´s mentor, Holger Geschwindner, had recently hit out at the German coaches in the media. "Nowitzki does not get any outside help," he said.